Ship section transfer assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a transfer assembly particularly adapted for use in shipyards for moving ship hull sub-assemblies in a non-linear path from one point to another. The assembly is characterized by a gridway comprised of first and second pluralities of sets of parallel, intersecting tracks, the tracks being disposed at right angles to each other. A transfer carriage is provided which is comprised of one or more beams secured to a series of trucks mounted on the tracks, the beams of adjacent carriages being provided with cradles for supporting a hull sub-assembly of a ship. The carriages may be moved in a linear direction by translatory movement of the trucks along parallel tracks either by towing or by synchronized powering devices carried by the trucks. The carriage may be shifted in direction by stopping the assembly with the trucks in registry with track intersections. Hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies are interposed between the beams and trucks whereby, an appropriate activation, the beams may be lowered such that their weight is supported by stanchions depending from the beams, the trucks being cleared from the tracks by the hydraulic assemblies whereby they may be rotated about the axis of the piston and cylinder, permitting the wheels of the trucks to be aligned with the other set of tracks. When the hydraulic assembly is again activated, the wheels of the realigned trucks are shifted downwardly into engagement with and support the carriage on a second set of tracks of the gridway, permitting movement of the unit along said second set of tracks.

[ Nov. 11, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Noah one point to another. The assembly is characterized by a gridway comprised of first and second pluralities of sets of parallel, intersecting tracks, the tracks being disposed at right angles to each other. A transfer carriage is provided which is comprised of one or more beams secured to a series of trucks mounted on the tracks, the beams of adjacent carriages being provided with cradles for supporting a hull sub-assembly of a shi 8 wo S wc A h R 5 Em m Wow 4 N r. W .d 1 R T flr 5 NS% S O ura RG.C J4 C .H o fimm N Emm d vs MP S.mA FA MMM n 577 22 [[1 [.1

p. The carriages may be moved in a linear direction 52 us. 104/1 R- 105/177- 105/211 by translatory movement the trucks along Parallel B6713 12/00 tracks either by towing or by synchronized powering 10508 1 A devices carried by the trucks. The carriage may be [58] Field of Search 104/1 R, 48

shifted in direction by stopping the assembly with the trucks 1n reglstry w1th track mtersections Hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies are interposed between [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS the beams and trucks whereby, an appropriate activation, the beams may be lowered such that their weight is supported by stanchions depending from the beams, the trucks being cleared from the tracks by the hy- Bryan, Jr. 105/28 X draulic assemblies whereby they may be rotated about 7 X MR 5 1 5 0 mm 1. we i on n m rl PS 9] 67 99 NH 67 7.9 65 03 59 33s the axis of the piston and cylinder, permitting the wheels of the trucks to be aligned with the other set of FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,508,295 10/1969 Germany 105/177 tracks n h hy raulic ass mbly is again activated, the wheels of the realigned trucks are shifted Primar Examiner-John J, Lov downwardly into engagement with and support the Attorney, Agent, or F irmArthur B, Colvin carriage on a second set of tracks of the gridway, permitting movement of the unit along said second set of [57] ABSTRACT tracks.

The present invention is directed to a transfer assembly particularly adapted for use in shipyards for moving ship hull sub-assemblies in a non-linear path from 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,918,366

Sheet 3 of 3 3,918,366

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 SHIP SECTION TRANSFER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUNDOF THE. INVENTION 1. Field of thelnvention The present invention is in the field of transfer assemblies and particularly is directed to a ship transfer assembly whereby heavy units, such as ship hull subing large hull sections, for instance, has severely limited the desirable practice noted. Typically, movement of ship sub-sections has involved either the use of supportive I cranes, which may themselves be mounted on tracks, or various forms of ground support carriages. A principal difficulty inhering in such transfer means lies in their inability to be shifted in a non-linear path.

SUMMARY The present invention may be summarized as directed to a transfer system or assembly comprising a gridway of first and second sets of horizontal tracks, each set consisting of a plurality of pairs of parallel rail sections, the rail sections intersecting. A transfer carriage includes one or more parallel sets of beams, each beam overlying a plurality of pairs of tracks. At regularly spaced points along the length of the beams, the same are connected to trucks comprising a platform carrying wheels, the trucks being spaced in accordance with the spacing of adjacent sets of tracks such that the trucks are free to roll along adjacent tracks.

Hydraulic lift assemblies are interposed between the trucks and the beams whereby the height of the beams may be varied in such manner that the beams are either supported on the trucks which are mounted, in turn, for translatory movement along the rails or, upon shifting of the fluid within the hydraulic assemblies, are supported on stanchions depending from the beams. With the weight removed from the trucks and the trucks cleared from the rails, the trucks may be rotated relative to the beams about the axis of the hydraulic assembly, whereat the truck wheels may be aligned with a different set of tracks of the gridway, permitting the carriage to move along said different track set following further activation of the hydraulic assemblies to retransfer the weight to the trucks.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a transfer assembly having particular utility in the movement of assemblies of substantial weight along a non-linear path.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an assembly of the type described including a gridway comprised of a plurality of sets of intersecting parallel tracks and a support carriage movable along with gridway, the carriage being mounted on a series of trucks riding on parallel tracks, the carriage including means selectively to support the weight of the carriage on the trucks or on the ground surface, freeing the trucks from the weight of the carriage whereby, in the latter mentioned position, the trucks may rotate or be rotated relative to the carriage, this to align the latter with a set of tracks intersecting the tracks initially supporting the carriage.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an assembly of the type described, including means for effecting the relative rotation of trucks to track.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly re cited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a truck component of the assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a gridway and transfer carriage in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are side elevational views of a carriage assembly in accordance with the invention, progressively illustrating the positions of the parts as the same are shifted for movement along one set of tracks to movement along another set.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, there is shown in plan a gridway 10 consisting of intersecting sets of tracks, the sets 11 running in a first direction and the sets 12 running in a second direction perpendicular, in this instance, to the sets 11. It is a principal objective of the present invention to provide a means whereby large sub-assemblies, such as the hull sub-assembly H (see FIGS. 3 through 5) may be shifted from one to another position along the gridway, which shifting will involve movement in a non-linear direction, i.e. movement in the direction of the tracks 11 and then the tracks 12.

It will be appreciated that, in view of the fact that loads in the order of hundreds of tons may be encountered, particular difficulties might be anticipated in movement of the components. A principal contribution of the present invention resides in the means for enabling such change in direction.

The hull components or like sub-assemblies H are mounted on cradle members 13 fixed on trunnions 14 carried by the beam assemblies 15 forming a portion of a carriage assembly. It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 2, for-instance, that one or more carriage assemblies 16 may be located and connected in a side by side orientation and move in unison, the carriage assemblies 16 being united either by external bracing or by the interconnection formed as a result of the hull component H being held within the cradle members 13 of adjacent carriages.

Each carriage member 16 is preferably formed of two horizontally extending, elongated beams 15, which may be of conventional I shape in vertical section, the beams being secured together at their ends by end beams 17 and at spaced intervals by cross beams 18. The beam 16 include vertically directed stanchions l9, welded to and depending from the beams 15, the stanchions having at the lower terminal ends thereof foot portions 20.

The carriage assemblies 16 are rendered mobile by their connection to heavy duty railway trucks 21, more clearly illustrated in FIG. I. The trucks include a welded frame defined by vertical side plates 22, 23, braced and connected by transversely extending end connector plates 24, 25. Side plates 22, 23 have secured thereto spaced bearing portions 26, within which are mounted axle members 27 carrying flanged wheels 28, the spacing of the wheels 28 being such as to correspond with the spacing of the rails forming sets l1, 12. As will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. I, the railway trucks include a wheel assembly at each end whereby the trucks are stabilized and are movable longitudinally along the tracks supporting the wheels.

Each of the trucks 21 carries a vertically directed heavy duty hydraulic cylinder 29, rigidly fixed, as by welding, to a component of the truck. Hydraulic piston member 30 is mounted within the cylinder 29 for axial movement in a vertical direction. Additionally, the piston 30 may be rotated relative to the cylinder 29 about the vertical axis thereof.

The hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly is of the double acting type, fluid being admissible to either side of the piston head slidably mounted within the bore of the cylinder, a conventional hydraulic circuit, which may include a pump, reservoir, control valves and the like (not shown), being provided to activate the hydraulic assembly.

A circular cap plate 31 is affixed to the upper end of the piston 30, the cap plate being secured to a horizontal stiffener plate 32 welded between adjacent cross beams 18.

The trucks may be provided with powerized drive motors M of any suitable nature, functioning to move the trucks along a track, it being evident that the motors of the various trucks must be coordinated to move in a synchronous manner such that each truck is advanced at an equal linear speed along the track, and for such purpose may incorporate a control Servo mechanism. The control assembly may be embodied in a separate control car (not shown) electrically connected to the trucks.

Means are preferably provided for powerized rotation of the trucks relative to the tracks so as to permit the wheel components of the trucks selectively to be aligned with a track system 11 or 12.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, such means comprise a ring gear 33 formed on the under face of cap plate 31, the gear being positioned to mesh with a pinion gear 34 carried by shaft 35 driven through motor and gear reduction mechanism 36.

As best appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, relative rotation of the trucks 21 to the beam assembly can be accomplished only when the trucks are cleared by the hydraulic mechanism from the tracks 11 and 12 defining the gridway 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the wheels 28 of the trucks 21 are supported upon rails, in this instance rails 11. The piston members 30 are by appropriate application of hydraulic fluid caused to extend upwardly from the cylinders 29, whereby the weight of the carriage assembly and hull section reacts through the pistion and cylinder assemblies onto the trucks, which in turn are supported on the rails 11. With the parts positioned as shown in FIG. 3, the carriage assembly or assemblies 16 may, through the energization of the motors M, or through an appropriate towing mechanism, be moved along the tracks 11.

When it is desired to shift the carriages such that the same may be moved along the perpendicular track series 12, the carriages are caused to be positioned along the rails 11, such that the axes of the hydraulic pistons 30 of a given carriage are centrally disposed over track intersections 37, it being appreciated that the spacing of the trucks is coordinated along the beams to correspond with the spacing of the intersections.

As best appreciated from an inspection of FIG. 1, the rails 11 and 12, at their crossing point, are recessed as at 38 to permit the passage of the flange portions of the wheels 28.

With the trucks positioned as above described. fluid is admitted to the cylinders 29 in such manner as to cause the pistons 30 to retract into the cylinders, with the result that the beam assemblies are lowered until the stanchions 19, are engaged against the surface on which the rails are mounted, in which position the weight of the carriage and hull components is supported on the stanchions.

As the pistons continue to retract into the cylinders 29, trucks 21 are gradually lifted toward the beams 15, whereupon the wheels 28 are cleared from the track 11 a distance sufficient to permit the trucks freely to pivot, without interference between the flanges of the wheels and the tracks. Such pivotal movement is effected by a relative rotation of the pistons 30 and cylinders 29. While the rotary force necessary may be manually applied, in the illustrated embodiment such force is supplied by the engaging ring gear 33 and pinion gear 34.

It will be noted that the pinion 34 is in vertically spaced relation to the ring gear 33 when the trucks are supported on the track 11 see FIG. 3. However, when the trucks have been lifted clear of the tracks, such lifting movment operates to engage th pinion and ring, whereupon rotation communicated to the shaft 35 carrying the pinion will be effective to rotate the truck bodily about the vertical axes of the piston and cylinder assemblies, such rotation being carried out until the wheels 28 are aligned with, and disposed over, the track sections 12.

With the trucks positioned as noted, fluid is admitted in a manner to cause the pistons 30 to extend from the cylinders 29, whereupon the wheels are progressively forced downwardly until the same engage against the track 12, continued extension of the pistons from the cylinders functioning to cause the beams 15 to be lifted, releasing the stanchions from contact with the ground surface. It will be understood that the parts are now in the position shown in FIG. 5, whereupon a motive force provided by motor M or by a towing cable, etc. will be effective to shift the carriages along the tracks 12.

Typically, during actual fabrication of the ship hull, the unit will be supported by the contact of the stanchion and the ground, the weight of the unit being preferably supported by the trackways only when the unit is to be moved from one position to another.

Certain of the details of construction have been described in a general manner since it is evident that a wide variety of possible construction may be satisfactorily employed, for instance, the power mechanism for 1. Apparatus for the transfer of ship sub-assemblies or the like relative to a ship hull structure, comprising a gridway mounted on a horizontal support surface, said gridway including first and second pluralities of parallel, horizontally spaced apart, intersecting tracks, a carriage means including a beam member for supporting a hull sub-assembly, said beam member being vertically displaced from said gridway, a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart fixed stanchions depending from said beam member, said stanchions terminating in coplanar support portions, a plurality of vertically directed hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies having free ends and ends fixed to said beam member, said assemblies being vertically shiftable between extended and retracted positions, the piston and cylinder components of said assemblies being relatively rotatable, said assemblies being spaced in accordance with the spacing between parallel tracks, a truck member fixed to the free end of each said hydraulic assembly, wheel means on said truck members for movably mounted said truck members on said tracks, said beam member being supported by said stanchions engaging said surface in said retracted limiting position of said hydraulic assembly, and by the engagement of said wheel means and tracks in the said extended limiting position, said wheel means being vertically spaced from said tracks in said retracted limiting position whereby said trucks may be rotated relative to said beam member selectively to align said wheel means with said first or said second plurality of tracks, to enable said carriage to move in a non-linear path on said gridway.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ship sub-assembly is mounted on a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart carriage means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and including powerized means for rotating said truck members relative to said beam, said powerized means including a first component mounted on said beam member, and a second component mounted on said truck member, said first. and second components being positioned to be engaged responsive to movement of said hydraulic assemblies to said retracted limiting position and disengaged responsive to movement of said assemblies to saidextended limiting position.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said truckmember relative to said beam member comprises a ring gear on one side member, a pinion gear on the other said member, motor means for rotating said pinion gear, said ring gear and pinion gear being engaged in said retracted limiting positions and in clearing relation in said extended limiting position. 

1. Apparatus for the transfer of ship sub-assemblies or the like relative to a ship hull structure, comprising a gridway mounted on a horizontal support surface, said gridway including first and second pluralities of parallel, horizontally spaced apart, intersecting tracks, a carriage means including a beam member for supporting a hull sub-assembly, said beam member being vertically displaced from said gridway, a plUrality of horizontally spacedapart fixed stanchions depending from said beam member, said stanchions terminating in coplanar support portions, a plurality of vertically directed hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies having free ends and ends fixed to said beam member, said assemblies being vertically shiftable between extended and retracted positions, the piston and cylinder components of said assemblies being relatively rotatable, said assemblies being spaced in accordance with the spacing between parallel tracks, a truck member fixed to the free end of each said hydraulic assembly, wheel means on said truck members for movably mounted said truck members on said tracks, said beam member being supported by said stanchions engaging said surface in said retracted limiting position of said hydraulic assembly, and by the engagement of said wheel means and tracks in the said extended limiting position, said wheel means being vertically spaced from said tracks in said retracted limiting position whereby said trucks may be rotated relative to said beam member selectively to align said wheel means with said first or said second plurality of tracks, to enable said carriage to move in a non-linear path on said gridway.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ship sub-assembly is mounted on a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart carriage means.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and including powerized means for rotating said truck members relative to said beam, said powerized means including a first component mounted on said beam member, and a second component mounted on said truck member, said first and second components being positioned to be engaged responsive to movement of said hydraulic assemblies to said retracted limiting position and disengaged responsive to movement of said assemblies to said extended limiting position.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said truck member relative to said beam member comprises a ring gear on one side member, a pinion gear on the other said member, motor means for rotating said pinion gear, said ring gear and pinion gear being engaged in said retracted limiting positions and in clearing relation in said extended limiting position. 